Gas dissolving apparatus



Nov. 28, 1950 P. H. THOMPSON 2,531,655

GAS DISSOLVING APPARATUS Filed March 2, 1946 Patented Nov. 28, 1950UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GAS DISSQLVING AEPARATUS pany, St. Louis,Mo.

Application March 2, 1945, Serial l lo. 51,6 1!

(Cl. 2ti1-=i2) 4 Claims. I

This invention relates to gas-dissolving apparatus and, moreparticularly, to water carbonators.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision ofa Water carbonator wherein tap water received at tap water temperaturemay be efficiently carbonated; the provision, in such a carbonatorincluding a pressure tank having a tap water supply inlet and an inletfor gas under pressure, of means for automatically maintaining tankpressure loss than the tap water pressure; the provision in such acarbonator of improved means for agitating and spraying the waterrequiring no rotary shaft packing; and, the provision of apparatus f theclass described which requires relatively few and simple parts. Otherobjects will be in part 0% vious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations ofelements, features of construction. and arrangements of parts which willbe exemplified in the structures hereinafter described, and the scope ofthe application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which one of various possibleembodiments of the invention is illustrated,

Fig. l is a vertical section through carbonating apparatus exemplifyingthe invention, and illustrating in a diagrammatic elevation a controlassociated therewith; and

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2- -2 of Fig. 1.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings, a pressure tank I, containing tap waterwhich is to be carbonated, has a tap water inlet pipe 3 and a carbonatedwater outlet pipe 5. The top of the tank I is dome-shaped. Pipe 3 isconnected into one arm of a T l, a tap water supply pipe 9 beingconnected into the other arm of the T. Pipe 9 is connected to a suitablesource of water under pressure, such as a city water main. A conduit H,to be referred to hereinafter, is connected into the stem of the T.

The normal water level in tank I is as shown in Fig. l. The water levelis controlled by a floatoperated valve in the lower end of water inletpipe 3, the lower end of pipe 3 being closed by a cap l3, having abracket I5 depending therefrom. Pivotally mounted at H in the bracket 15is a float arm I9 having a float 2| at one end and a valve 23 on valvestem 25 at its other end. Valve 23 is adapted to close 55 close off said2'; in the end of said cap it when float 2| rises. This occurs upon arise of the water level in said tank above normal, said aperture 21being opened when the water level falls below normal, due to withdrawalof carbonated water from the tank. Aperture 2? is sufficiently large sothat water may flow around valve stem 25.

A carbon dioxide (CO2) gas inlet pipe 29 extends into tank 5 and hasapertures 3| within the tank from which gas bubbles into the water. Pipeis connected, outside the tank, to the outlet of a gas supply regulatorand control valve generally designated 33. This valve controls flow ofgas from a C02 gas supply pipe to said tank. Pipe 35 is connected to asource of 002 under pressure. Control valve 33 is provided to maintainthe pressure in tank l less than the pressure of water in inlet 3,since, if the tank pressure were permitted to become higher than thepressure of the water supply, water could not flow into the tank.

Control valve 33 comprises a casing formed by upper and lower generallycup-shaped valve casing members 35 and 33, respectively, having recessedflanges 39 and 4! thereon. Between their rims 43 and 45 is clamped aflexible diaphragm 41, in sealed relation thereto, dividing said casinginto upper and lower chambers 44 and 45. Diaphragm ll is centered by apair of annular spring rings is and disposed in the recesses of theflanges 39 and 4!, respectively. Conduit H is connected to an inlet 53in the wall of the upper valve casing member 3-5 so that said upperchamber ll! is filled with tap water and the diaphragm 4? is pressedfrom above by the pressure of said tap water. Diaphragm 41 is alsoadjustably biased downward by a compression spring 55 in the upperchamber 44. The top wall of the upper member 1 5 is formed with athreaded bore 57 in which is threaded an adjusting stud 59 having aspring centering seat 6| on its end within the casing, its other endbeing slotted, as indicated at 63, to receive an adjusting tool.Adjustment of stud 59 is maintained by a. lock nut 65. The lower end ofspring 55 is centered by a seat 6! on diaphragm 41..

The lower valve casing member 3? has an inlet conduit "ii seated inapertures in opposite sides or the walls of. said member 3'1. one end ofsaid inlet conduit is closed, as indicated at E2, and the gas supplypipe 35 is connected into the other end of said inlet conduit. Anaperture 13 is formed in. the lower wall of said inlet conduit ii withinchamber it. A valve element it is adapted to aperture i3 when raisedfrom the position thereof shown in Fig. 1 into seating engagement withthat portion of the wall of inlet conduit 'lI surrounding said aperture.The valve element I is mounted in a U-shaped stirrup Tl having lateralarms l9 retained against the under side of diaphragm 4? by the lowerannular spring ring 5I. 1

It will be observed that flexible diaphragm 9'! is pressed upward bypressure of gas in lower valve chamber 46. The lower spring ring 5Iexerts upward force on the diaphragm 51. The pressure of water in upperchamber 49, the compression spring 55, and the upper spring ring 59exert downward pressure on the diaphragm 5?. The lower spring ring 5! isformed to exert substantially more force on diaphragm 4'! than thecombined forces of spring 55 and upper spring ring 49. The differentialbetween the upward and the downward spring forces may be varied byadjusting spring 55. This differential is such that the diaphragm 41 ismoved upward to move valve element I5 to close off aperture 13 when thegas pressure in lower chamber 4'6 (which is the same as the pressure inthe tank) is a predetermined amount less than the water pressure in theupper chamber 95. For example, spring 55 may be adjusted to provide afive-pound operating pressure differential between the line 9 and theinterior of the tank I. If the tap water pressure is, for example,thirty pounds, the valve element will close when the gas pressure istwenty-five pounds, and will 'open when the gas pressure is less thantwenty-five pounds. If the tap water pressure varies, the same operatingpressure differential is maintained automatically. If the tap waterpressure should fall to twenty pounds, the valve will close when the gaspressure is fifteen pounds. Screw 59 controls only the amount of thepressure differential.

A tube 85, preferably of stainless steel is secured (as by welding), inan aperture 8'! in the top of pressure tank I. This tube projects upwardfrom the tank through a solenoid 83, the latter being mounted on thetank. Slidably mounted in said tube 85 is a solenoid plunger or armature89, preferably comprising a completely closed cylindrical stainlesssteel or similar noncorrosive cylindric container 9I, hermeticallysealed at both ends by caps 94 and filled with tightly packed magneticparticles 92, such as iron filings, or particles of precipitated pureiron. A plunger rod 93, secured to the lower end of said plunger 89,extends downward into the tank, sliding in a bearing 95 in the lower endof tube 85. A compression spring 9'! is interposed between the lower endof the plunger 89 and the bearing 95, biasing plunger 89 upward. Theupper end of tube 85 is hermetically sealed by a welded plug 99, so asto prevent leakage of gas from the tank I, and the solenoid B8 and theprojecting end of tube 85 are enclosed within a dome-shaped casing IUI.

. A plunger bell or cup, generall designated by reference character I95,is secured to the lower end of plunger rod 93. The plunger cup, asillustrated in Fig. 1, is substantially in the form of. a hollowtruncated cone, the conical wall it? thereof being internally braced bythree radial ribs I99, III and H3. The ribs merge at the center line ofthe cone and are thickened at their upper central portions, as indicatedat i I5, formmg a hub I ll. Hub I I l is formed with a threaded boretherein receiving threaded lower end I I9 of plunger rod 93. Saidthickened portions also cooperate with an outwardly curved lip IZfil' onthe upper end of conical wall IN to form, in eifect, a nozzle fordirecting water forced through the upper end of said cup I05 outwardly,as indicated by dash lines A in Fig. 1.

Upon energization of solenoid 88, plunger cup I95 is rapidly forced downinto the water in tank I, thereby forcing water upward through the threenozzle apertures I2I, I23 and I25 between the ribs in the upper end ofsaid plunger cup I35. The apertures cause the water to spray upward andoutward. Fig. 1 shows the plunger and plunger cup approaching the lowerend of the stroke. When plunger 89 moves downward, spring 9? iscompressed and, upon deenergization of the solenoid 58, the springforces the plunger to the upper limit of its stroke. The specificconstruction of the plunger cup I described herein is merely exemplaryof the principles involved and an other form of plunger cup adapted tospray water upward and outward, as illustrated b the dashed lines A inFig. 1, may be used. The chief criterion is that it shall be hollow andflared downward as a bell with a relatively small outlet, or outlets, atthe top. This ac celerates the water to form a spray.

Y The plunger assembly (comprising plunger 89, plunger rod 93 andplunger cup I95) is adapted periodically to be reciprocated rapidly fora short time interval. This is accomplished by a solenoid control,generally designated I3I. This control is so constructed as, forexample, to deenergize solenoid 88 completely for fourteen minutes, thenrapidly and intermittently energize ing rod I4! is connected betweencrankpin I49 of crankshaft I39 and a collar I5I on the other end of saidmercury switch I4I, so that rotation of crankshaft I39 osci lates switchMI at a rate desired for reciprocation of the plunger I95. Suchoscillation of switch I4I rapidly makes and breaks the circuit in whichsaid switch is connected. A cam I53 is arranged to close a' pair ofswitch contacts I55 and I51 periodically. This cam is driven by a wormgear I59 meshing with a worm IBI fixed on the end of crankshaft I39.This worm and worm gear drive functions as a speed reducing mechanism sothat cam I53 is driven at a speed lower than that of crankshaft I39. Thelobe I63 of cam I53 is of such form as to maintain contacts I55 and IE1closed for a predetermined period, such as the one minute periodreferred to previously, and the remainder of the periphery of the camI53 is of such form as to permit contacts I55 and I51 to remain open fora longer predetermined period, such as the fourteen minute periodreferred to previously. Contact I55 is fixed on the free end of a springswitch arm I65 biased against cam I53. Contact I5! is disposed at theend of a fixed switch arm IBB. The electrical circuit comprises solenoid88, contacts I55 and I51 and switch MI, and a parallel circuit includingthe field of motor I33, both circuits being energized by power supplylines I" and H3. Specifically, the power supply line I13 is connected toone terminal of mercury switch I4I. Conductor I-I5 connects the otherterminal of said mercury switch to arm I65 of the cam-controlled switch.Conductor I'll connects one terminal of solenoid 88 to fixed switch armI66 and conductor I19 connects the other terminal of solenoid 88 topower supply line 1'. Fieid I8I of motor I33 is connected across powerlines Ill and I13, so that it is not affected by opening and closing ofswitch i ll and contacts I55 and I51.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

Pipes 3 and I I and upper valve casing member 35 are filled with tapwater from tap water supply pipe 9. If the water level in tank I isnormal, valve 2-3 is closed. No water flows into the tank. If the waterlevel is too low, due to carbonated water having been drawn oil throughoutlet 5, valve 23 opens and admits water to make up the deficiency.

It may be assumed that, at the start of the operation, tank I has beenfilled to normal level with tap water, but that there is no gas therein.Since, in such event, there is less pressure on the underside ofdiaphragm 41 than on its upper side, the diaphragm is biased downward bythe pres sure of tap water in upper valve chamber 44, and valve elementI5 opens. Gas then flows from the source through pipe 35 and throughaperture '53 into the lower chamber Gt and through gas inlet pipe 29into the tank. Pressure builds up in the tank and lower chamber 45 untilit is sufficiently high to overcome the downward bias on diaphragm 41.Valve element I5 then closes to cut oil flow of gas into the lowerchamber 65 and the tank. As has been previously pointed out, said valveelement closes when the pressure in the tank and lower chamber 46 buildsup to a predetermined value somewhat less than the pres- Sure of the tapwater. How much less is determined by the setting of compression spring55. Control valve 33 thus functions to maintain the pressure of gas inthe tank always less than the pressure of the tap water supply, so thattap water may always flow into the tank when called for by opening ofthe float valve 23. This eliminates any necessity for a tap water pumpto force water into the tank against the pressure therein. Therelationship between the pressure of gas in the tank and the pressure ofthe tap water sup ply is maintained even though the pressure of the tapwater supply should vary, as it often does, since the valve closeswhenever the tank pressure becomes a predetermined number of pounds lessthan the tap water pressure, despite the actual values of thesepressures. If the pressure of the tank should fall, due, for example, todrawing oil of carbonated water therefrom, the gas pressure in lowerchamber 46 falls and valve element '15 opens to admit gas to the tankand build up th pressure therein to said value a predetermined number ofpounds less than tap water pressure. This provides a desirable constantdegree of carbonation.

When contacts 555 and I5! are closed by the lobe I 33 of cam I53, andwhen the terminals of mercury switch I 4! are bridged by the mercurytherein, the circuit of solenoid 88 is completed and the solenoid isenergized to drive its plunger 58, plunger rod 53 and cup use downward,forcing said cup down into the water and spraying water upward andoutward through the nozzle apertures IZI, I23 and M5 in the upper end ofsaid cup. Since mercury switch MI is being rapidly oscillated, however,it functions rapidly to make and break said circuit, thereby rapidlyintermittently energizing and deenergizing the solenoid 88. Suchactioncauses rapid reciprocation of plunger cup I05 to agitate and spraythe water upward and outward as previously described. Such actioncontinues as long as the lobe I63 on cam E53 maintains contacts I55 andI51 closed. When lobe I63 rides off the spring arm I65, contacts I55 andI51 are opened, and even though mercury switch MI continues tooscillate, the solenoid circuit is broken until lo be I63 again engagesarm I65. Thus, cam I53 functions to condition the solenoid circuit foroperation of the solenoid for a short time interval and switch MIfunctions to energize and deenergize the solenoid rapidly during thatshort interval.

carbonation is effected both in the water and in the space above. Gasflowing into the tank through inlet pipe 29 bubbles out into the waterthrough apertures 3i. some of the gas is dissolved as it bubbles upwardthrough the water. The remainder bubbles to the surface and out into thespace thereabove. Some of the latter is dissolved in the spray above thewater surface, gas in the space thereabove coming into intimate surfacecontact with the broken-up water particles in said spray and with thelarge surface area of water cascading over the interior or the walls ofthe tank. The water in the tank is agitated and sprayed upward andoutward against the dome-shaped top and side walls of the tank duringspaced short intervals. The water cascading over the dome-shaped top andside walls of the tank also presents large surface areas thereof notonly for gas absorption but also for heat transfer. For example, thetank I may be surrounded by a cooling medium such as ice. I

The length of the period of operation of the plunger and the length ofthe interval therebetween are determined by the speed and development ofcam 653, and may be varied by substituting different worms and wormgears and/or different cams to provide for different conditions of use.If the demand for carbonated water is great in a particular instance,such a worm IBI, worm gear I 59 and cam I53 may be used as will effectrelatively longer periods of operation of the plunger with relativelyshorter intervals between such periods.

The construction herein disclosed may be made very small and this is animportant advantage. structurally it is very simple. Another advantageis that no shaft seals or packings are reouired. The tube is merelywelded shut at its upper end \by plug 99 and to the tank at 81, andleakage of gas from the tank is thereby effectively prevented. Thesolenoid control I3I may be of a suitab e construction other than thatdisclosed and mav be enclosed within the dome-shaped casing IOI.

An important point of the invention is that although the armature 89 isoperating in an atmosphere of moisture and C02, it will not, likeordinary laminated iron armatures, tend to disintegrate. This is becauseof the use of the enclosing stainless steel tube 9! surrounding themagnetic ironQZ. Such a tube is non-corrosive in the presence of thecontents of the tank and protects the comminuted magnetic iron, whichwould otherwise be corroded. This form of iron also has low hysteresislosses and is easier to organize in its protective compartment thanwould be laminated iron sheets.

It is to be understood that all parts within the tank, and even the tankitself, are to be made of non-corrosive materials, such as stainlesssteel.

Although the particular disclosure of the invention is in reference to awater carbonator, its principles apply to any gas dissolving apparatusof analogous requirements.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of theinvention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in the above constructions withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

I claim:

1. In apparatus of the character described, a tank means for maintainingliquid at a predetermined level below the top thereof and a free gasspace over the liquid, a plunger slidably mounted in the top of saidtank and extending downward into said tank, means for reciprocating saidplunger, a hollow plunger cup mounted rigidly on the lower end of saidplunger, the wall of said cup flaring outward and downward from saidplunger, said cup being located at such position'in reference to saidpredetermined level as to be partially immersed when the plunger is atthe lower limit of its stroke, said cup further being constricted in itsupper end in the formation of a nozzle adapted, when the cup is forceddownward into liquid in the tank, to spray said liquid upward andoutward into the free gas space and against the top and upper side wallsof said tank in shower-like formation.

2. In apparatus of the character described, a plunger cup comprising abody in the form of a hollow truncated cone having an outturned lip atthe small end thereof, internal radial ribs integral therewith mergingat the center line thereof, said ribs being thickened centrally at theirends adjacent said small end to form a hub, said thickened portions ofsaid ribs also coopcrating with said lip to form outwardly directednozzle-like apertures in the small end of said body between said ribs.

3. In apparatus of the character described, a tank means for maintainingliquid at a predetermined level below the top thereof and a free gasspace over the liquid, a plunger slidably mounted in the top of saidtank and extending downward into said tank, means for reciprocating saidplunger, a hollow plunger cup mounted rigidly on the lower end of saidplunger, the wall of said cup flaring outward and downward from saidplunger, said cup being located at such position in reference to saidpredetermined level as to be partially immersed when the plunger is atthe upper limit of its stroke, said cup further being constricted in itsupper end in the formation of a nozzle adapted, when the cup is forceddownward into liquid in the tank, to spray said liquid upward andoutward into the free gas space and against the top and upper side wallsof said tank in shower-like formation.

4. In apparatus of the character described, a tank means for maintainingliquid at a predetermined level below the top thereof and a free gasspace over the liquid, a plunger slidably mounted in the top of saidtank and extending downward into said tank, means for reciprocating saidplunger, a hollow plunger cup mounted rigidly on the lower end of saidplunger, the wall of said cup flaring outward and downward from saidplunger, said cup being located at such position in reference to saidpredetermined level as to be partially immersed when the plunger is ateither limit of its stroke, said cup further being constricted in itsupper end in the formation of a nozzle adapted, when the cup is forceddownward into liquid in the tank, to spray said liquid upward andoutward into the free gas space and against the top and upper side wallsof said tank in shower-like formation.

PARKE H. THOMPSON.

REFERENCES CITED The fellowing references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Westcott Apr. 4, York Sept. 28, TrumbullFeb. 5, Rebok et al. May 6, Maas Dec. 5, Wendelburg Apr. 9, Sanford Apr.27, Maas May 31, Yaxley May 21, Wilsey Sept. 23, Buehm May 10, Marr May9, Boekeker et al. Dec. 3, Rowell Dec. 29, Weyard Oct. 12, Lane July 18,

FOREIGN PATENTS Country 7 Date Germany Dec. 28, 1889 Germany Aug. 9,1924 Number

